Why Ex-Certified Smartphones Have Been Lagging Behind – And What's Changing Now

In explosive work zones, safety comes first. Electronics used in these areas must meet strict Ex-certification standards to avoid causing sparks or ignition. These rules are essential — but they've also held smartphones back.

For over a decade, Ex-smartphones have lagged behind the consumer market. They're slower, heavier, and harder to use. Many workers compare them to their personal phones and are disappointed. As a result, many devices are left unused in drawers or storage, rarely taken into the field.

Why have Ex-phones struggled to keep up?

Ex-Smartphones must be custom-built — and most are designed and developed by small manufacturers. These companies usually don't get access to flagship components like high-end processors, displays, cameras, or battery systems. Even if this technology would be available for them, building and certifying an Ex-device can take up to three years. By the time the device ships to the market, the core hardware is already out of date.

To stay compliant and avoid sudden component shortages, many manufacturers rely on industrial-grade parts designed for long lifecycles — not top performance. That means Ex phones often launch with specs from the past.

There's also a difference in approach:

Ex-i smartphones use intrinsic safety and have strict limitations on power and energy. This often affects the functionality of the chipsets, batteries, and displays.
Ex-d smartphones rely on protective enclosures but often end up oversized and heavy, with poor ergonomics.

In both cases, the result has been the same: safe devices that frustrate users.

What's Changing Now

A new generation of Ex-certified smartphones is changing expectations. XShielder combines the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 17 series with a patented Ex-certified enclosure for Zone 1& 21 hazardous environments, delivering flagship performance without compromising safety.

Designed for everyday field use, it offers a lightweight, ergonomic form factor while remaining fully compatible with Apple's ecosystem for enterprise management, security, and app deployment.

As the exclusive Golden Partner for XShielder in the GCC, GravitEx provides local engineering support, deployment guidance, and technical expertise to help organizations successfully adopt hazardous-area mobility.

The Bottom Line

Ex-certified smartphones no longer have to mean compromised performance. XShielder combines certified protection with a modern smartphone experience, while GravitEx helps organizations deploy and support the solution across industrial operations in the GCC.

Curious to learn more? Contact GravitEx to discuss your hazardous-area mobility requirements.